Covid Vaccine Chennai - News, Update and Registration - *Updated 5 May 2021*

This article has been reviewed by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated 5 May 2021

The Gateway to South India has already registered hundreds of thousands of cases and thousands more are being reported every day. With numbers of fatalities climbing everyday, Chennai continues to battle with the pandemic.

Many are understandably hoping that the deployment of the vaccine would spell the beginning of the end of the pandemic. So, when will Madrasis get their chance to be vaccinated? What’s the latest development in the capital city?

Table of Contents

Updates on COVID vaccination in Chennai

The city received fresh shipments of 2,00,000 doses of Covishield and 75,000 vials of Covaxin on 4 May.

However, as is the case in most cities in the country, Chennai is facing a severe short supply of COVID-19 vaccines. In the midst of such a shortage, vaccination for 18+ citizens is likely to open only after the third week of May.

Apollo Hospitals, the largest private hospital chain in India, is also in talks with the Serum Institute of India to make the Covishield vials available at its locations in Chennai, along with a few other cities.

What vaccines are available now?

Covishield

The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, also going by the moniker of Covidshield in India, would likely also be authorized for emergency use in the country by the end of the year. Phase 2/3 trials of the vaccine are underway in a joint effort by the Serum Institute of India and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is closely reviewing all the data from the vaccine’s application in its third phase of trials.

Overall efficacy: around 90%

Covaxin

Developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), COVAXIN is India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate to undergo phase 3 trials. This inactivated coronavirus vaccine has been injected in around 28,500 volunteer candidates in over 25 centers across India. Data from the previous trials show that it is safe and promisingly efficient.

Overall efficacy: 80.6%

Sputnik V

Sputnik V got approved by DCGI on 13 April and will soon become available for distribution.

Russia’s Sputnik V has also conducted a combined phase two-three trial in India. This has been under the initiative of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which went into a distribution partnership with the firm in September. Now approved, it will be manufactured domestically in the country by five different companies.

Overall efficacy: 95%

When can Chennai residents be vaccinated?

January 16 marked the beginning of the city’s COVID 19 vaccination drive. The vaccination is voluntary. It is being carried out in four phases:

Phase 1 focused on health care and front-line workers.
Phase 2 was for senior citizens and those above 45 suffering from comorbidities.
The ongoing Phase 3 includes everyone above 45 years of age, irrespective of health status.
Phase 4, scheduled to begin from May 1 will includes everyone above the age of 18.

Phase 4 starts on 1 May and will open the vaccine stores of the country to most of its population. However, due to the shortage of supply, Chennaiites in the 18-45 age group may have to wait longer for their turn.

Where to get vaccinated in Chennai?

Residents of Chennai can take the vaccine shots at either an Urban Primary Health Centre, an Urban Community Health Centre, a Private Hospital or a Government Hospital – ESI, as per their convenience.

In all, there are 350 locations for Chennaiites to choose from, as per their convenience.

Check the complete list of vaccination centres in Chennai here.

How to register for vaccination in Chennai?

Appointments for vaccination can be booked through the CoWIN website, Aarogya Setu app, or the UMANG app. Keep in mind that every user of either platform can register at the most 4 beneficiaries.

For detailed instructions on registration and appointments, click here.

CoWIN

Open the CoWIN online portal.
Click on the ‘Register/Sign In Yourself’ yellow button. Those who are using it for the first time will need to register themselves with their photo ID proof (Aadhar Card/ Driving License/ PAN Card/ Passport/ Pension Passbook), photo ID number, name, and birth year. Those who have registered can sign in with an OTP.
Click on ‘Schedule Appointment’.
Once you enter the pin code of your area, you’ll be shown a list of vaccination centres in that area of Chennai.
Select the timing slot comfortable for you and ‘confirm’ your appointment.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.

Aarogya Setu

Download the app on Google Play or iOS App Store.
On the app’s homepage, click on the ‘CoWIN’ tab on the top right.
Select the ‘Register Now’ option and verify your mobile number with an OTP.
Fill in details such as name, age, gender, year of birth, etc, and upload a photo ID proof.
Search for your convenient vaccination centre in Chennai by entering the pin code of your locale, and choose the date and time of your appointment.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.

UMANG

Download the UMANG app on Google Play or iOS App Store.
First, register yourself on the app (if you haven’t already done so) with an OTP.
Click on the “Health” category and select “Co-WIN”.
Fill in details such as name, age, gender, year of birth, etc, and upload a photo ID proof.
Search for your convenient vaccination centre in Chennai by entering the pin code of your locale or your district, and choose the date and time slot convenient to you.

Upon successful registration, you will receive an SMS with the appointment details.